Vik-Kel Corp. v. Department of Environmental Resources

29 Pa. D. & C.3d 375
CourtPennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board
DecidedJuly 13, 1983
Docketno. 82-157-H
StatusPublished

This text of 29 Pa. D. & C.3d 375 (Vik-Kel Corp. v. Department of Environmental Resources) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vik-Kel Corp. v. Department of Environmental Resources, 29 Pa. D. & C.3d 375 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1983).

Opinion

MAZULLO, Member,

This matter arises from the appeal of Vik-Kel Corporation from the denial, by DER, of three applications for solid waste management permits. One of the applications involved a disposal site for sludge generated in sewage treatment plants. This site was to be located in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County. The other two applications covered contiguous parcels of property located in Sewick-ley Township, Westmoreland County. One of the Sewickley applications was for an oil separator facility, the other was for an agricultural disposal site for septic tank pumpings. Separate petitions to intervene in this matter were filed and granted on behalf of Sewickley Township (township) and an unincorporated citizens group identified as the Concerned Citizens of Madison (citizens). Madison is an unincorporated settled area located within Sewickley Township a portion of which is within a few hundred yards of the proposed sludge and oil separator sites. The township and citizens are, along with DER, parties appellees in the above matter.

A hearing was held in the above-matter on February 22, 23 and 24, 1983 before the Honorable Dennis J. Harnish, then Chairman of the board. Following receipt of briefs Mr. Harnish, as hearing examiner authorized by this board, prepared a pro[377]*377posed adjudication in the above-matter which adjudication has been reviewed and approved by both the sitting members of the board.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Charles E. Lutz, Basil Lutz, Basol Lutz and Basilous Lutz are the same person.

2. Dorothy C. Lutz, Dorothy Lutz, Dorothy C. Baker, Dorothy Catherine Lutz, and Mrs. Charles E. Lutz are the same person.

3. Charles E. Lutz and Dorothy C. Lutz are husband and wife, and the parents of Gregory Lutz and Charles P. Lutz, who is also known as Paul Lutz.

4. Appellant Vik-Kel Corporation (Vik-Kel) is a corporation organized by Charles E. Lutz and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with a place of business located at Box 333, Madison, Pa. 15663.

5. Charles E. Lutz was the president of Vik-Kel prior to November of 1981.

6. Dorothy C. Lutz was formerly the vice-president of Vik-Kel and is presently its secretary-treasurer.

7. Gregory Lutz was formerly an employee of Vik-Kel and is currently its president.

8. Charles P. Lutz was formerly an employee of Vik-Kel and is currently its vice-president.

9. Charles E. Lutz continues to be involved in the business affairs of Vik-Kel.

10. On or before May 16, 1974, Charles E. Lutz, doing business as Keystone Septic Tank Service, disposed of septic tank pumpings and waste oil on the hill above Placid Manor Mobile Home Park along Beaver Road, Hempfield Township, West-moreland County, without authorization by permit and in a manner which resulted in runoff onto [378]*378Placid Manor Mobile Home Park, pollution of waters of the Commonwealth and a nuisance condition.

11. On or before May 27, 1976, Charles E. Lutz dumped five truckloads of septic tank pumpings and other wastes on his property adjacent to U.S. Route 30 between the house and barn without authorization by permit.

12. On June 18, 1980, the department issued Solid Waste Permit 601690 to Basil and Dorothy C. Lutz, authorizing the disposal of 275,000 gallons of sewage sludge on 9.9 acres of land in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County (Lutz Recycling Site). Between May, 1980 and June, 1981 Vik-Kel disposed of approximately 1.7 million gallons of sewage sludge at and adjacent to the Lutz Recycling Site.

13. Soil analyses of the Lutz Recycling Site indicate that following this sludge dumping the concentrations of copper, nickel, mercury, cadium, chromium, lead and zinc exceed the maximum safe levels for soils.

14. On or before February 26, 1981, Vik-Kel disposed of sewage sludge on land adjacent to the Lutz Recycling Site not authorized by Solid Waste Permit 601690 or any other permit.

15. On February 26, 1981 Vik-Kel had failed to incorporate all sewage sludge within 24 hours after application at and adjacent to the Lutz Recycling Site.

16. On or before February 26, 1981, Vik-Kel applied sewage sludge to frozen ground at and adjacent to the Lutz Recycling Site.

17. On or before February 26, 1981, Vik-Kel applied sewage sludge to saturated ground at and adjacent to the lutz Recycling Site.

[379]*37918. On or before February 26, 1981, Vik-Kel allowed sewage sludge to pond on the surface and run off the fields at and adjacent to the Lutz Recycling Site.

19. On or before February 26, 1981, Vik-Kel failed to contour plow the fields at and adjacent to the Lutz Recycling Site.

20. On and before February 26, 1981, Vik-Kel failed to properly revegetate the Lutz Recycling Site and affected adjacent areas.

21. On and before February 26, 1981, Vik-Kel failed to maintain its operational records in proper order.

22. On June 18, 1981, Solid Waste Permit 601690 expired.

23. On or before April 22, 1982, Vik-Kel dumped sewage sludge at and adjacent to the Lutz Recycling Site without authorization by permit.

24. On April 22, 1982, Charles E. Lutz hindered department employees’ performance of their duty to investigate unauthorized dumping of solid waste.

25. During the fall and winter of 1981, Charles E. Lutz cleaned up a fuel oil spill and contaminated soil at the Jeannette Sewage Treatment Plant which fuel oil came from the adjacent Hockensmith plant.

26. When first approached by the department, Charles E. Lutz refused to show the department records of the disposition of this clean-up waste.

27. Charles E. Lutz finally told the department that he had disposed of the clean-up waste at Kelly Run Sanitation, Inc.

28. Kelly Run Sanitation, Inc. did not receive all, if any, of the clean-up waste.

29. The department never received a Module I application requesting authorization nor did it even issue a Module I granting authorization to dispose of the clean-up waste.

[380]*38030. The records submitted by Charles Lutz to prove that he took said clean-up waste to Kelly Run Sanitation, Inc. were forgeries.

31. Charles Lutz on several occasions admitted to lying with regard to phonebook descriptions of his business activities then attempted to recant this testimony.

32. Charles Lutz also attempted to recant his testimony concerning gallonage of sludge spreading figures he had allegedly shown the department’s inspector.

33. Mr. Lutz’s testimony concerning Mary Zakutney was refuted by Mary Zakutney, a disinterested witness.

DISCUSSION

On April 3, 1981 DER received an application from Vik-Kel Corporation in which Vik-Kel sought a permit to utilize septic tank wastes for agricultural purposes (Ag site). This application, which was identified by DER as No. 601976, was denied by a letter dated June 1, 1982. Mr. Charles A.

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29 Pa. D. & C.3d 375, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vik-kel-corp-v-department-of-environmental-resources-paenvhrbd-1983.